New Zealand’s Minister for Internal Affairs Chris Tremain is fast-tracking the government’s digital engagement strategy under a new initiative that brings together core agencies at the front-line of public services. These agencies are banding together under the auspices of a recently-established “Digital Service Council.”

Minister Tremain, also a keynote speaker at the Annual FutureGov Forum New Zealand being held Tuesday 28th May in Wellington, says this new project enables New Zealanders to interact more readily with government in an on-line environment.

“The aim of the funding is to increase the efficiencies of agencies working together to allow more New Zealanders to interact with the Government online,” he says.

“Our target is for 70 per cent of New Zealanders’ most common transactions with government to occur online by 2017.”

New Zealand’s peak agency, the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) is managing this programme, in partnership with the Digital Service Council.

Council membership and contributions from lead agencies encompass the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, the Department of Conservation, New Zealand Customs Service, Inland Revenue, New Zealand Police, Ministry of Social Development, New Zealand Transport Agency, and the DIA.

These agencies are pooling NZ$2.9 million to fund the project – while sharing innovative ideas and common goals to engage with citizens.

The government’s commitment to citizen engagement also comes under the spotlight at the Annual FutureGov Forum New Zealand. A dedicated panel discussion, “Gov 3.0; Engaging Citizens” weighs the benefits and challenges of connecting with citizens in an on-line environment.

This panel features speakers from New Zealand’s DIA, as well as the Office of Economic Development Board (South Australia), Land Information New Zealand, Australian Maritime Safety Authority, and the Department of Local Government (Western Australia).